Orb Colt Tops OBS April Opener

Tuesday's Topper by Orb | Tibor Szlavik

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During a brisk day of trade, a colt by Orb topped Tuesday's opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's April Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training when selling for $685,000 to Three Chimneys Farm.

At the close of business, 169 juveniles had grossed $15,305,700 and the average was $90,566–up 27.9% from last year's opening session. The median was up 6.4% from a year ago. With 53 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 23.9%. The buy-back rate at the end of the session was 28% a year ago. That figure improved to 22% with the inclusion of post-sale transactions.

During last year's opening session, 165 head grossed $11,687,500 for an average of $70,833 and a median of $47,000.

“I thought it was an exceptional day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “It seemed very active at all levels of the market. Hopefully the momentum that was captured here today continues on to the next three days.”

Nine horses topped $300,000 Tuesday, including the session's top-priced lot, hip 28, a colt from the first crop of GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb. Three Chimneys' Jacob West signed the ticket on the youngster, who was consigned by Randy Miles.

A year ago, six horses sold for $300,000 or more, with a colt by Into Mischief leading the way with a final price $335,000.

While action was vibrant at the top, some consignors and buyers noted a continued polarization of the market.

“Same thing as always,” reported Eddie Woods, who was the session's leading consignor with 11 sold for $1,272,500. “If you have what they want, they just throw money at you. Other than that, you are on your own.”

Bidding on behalf of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, Alan Quartucci paid $575,000 to secure a filly by Creative Cause.

“From what I've seen, it looks like there have been a lot of buy backs in the middle of the market,” Quartucci said. “But, the horses that everyone wants are going for more money than you'd expect.”

Bloodstock agent Alex Solis II was active on both sides of the ledger Tuesday and found a reasonable market on both ends.

“I think it is pretty fair,” Solis said of the market. “We sold a filly earlier we liked and she brought decent money, nothing crazy, but nothing has been selling crazy so far. It's only day one, though. By Friday, we will see where it's at.”

The OBS April sale continues through Friday with sessions beginning daily at 10:30 a.m.

West Strikes Early for Orb Colt

Bloodstock agent Jacob West made his presence known early during Tuesday's opening session of the OBS April sale, going to $685,000 on behalf of Three Chimneys Farm for an Orb colt. Another colt by Orb brought $1.25 million–the second highest price–at last month's OBS March Sale.

A :10.1 breezer, Hip 28 was bred by Claiborne Farm, which stands his GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire. Out of the Dynaformer mare Vowel, the bay colt hails from the family of Grade I winner Preach, who is the dam of GSW and sire Pulpit.

“He was a nice horse,” West remarked after signing the ticket on the side of the pavilion. “Obviously, you have to love Orb. He's a pretty serious horse, had a nice breeze and a good gallop out. He looks good, vets good and we are pretty excited about him.”

West added, “Pretty good touch for Randy Miles and his crew over there, but Randy does a good job. That's no shock. He's a good horsemen and you feel confident buying off of him.”

Miles picked up Hip 28 for just $30,000 as a yearling at last term's Keeneland September sale.

“It was great,” offered Miles with a grin. “The price didn't matter to us. It was nice that the horse got a wonderful home. Some great people bought the horse and some great people were underbidders on the horse. We just wanted the horse to go on and do well. Price did not matter. We knew everybody loved the horse. That is what was important to us. He gets top go on and have a good career.”

West and the Three Chimneys' team will entrust the colt's future career to trainer Steve Asmussen.

“The horse is going to go to Steve Asmussen,” he said. “We've had pretty good luck with Steve with Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a few other horses.”

West also offered an update on GI Clark H. hero and G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Gun Runner, saying, “As of right now, the plan is the [GI] Steven Foster [H. June 17]. He will run out of his own stall there. He loves Churchill. He's doing great. As of right now that is the plan, but the horse will dictate all of that.” @CDeBernardis

Brant Continues his Buying Spree

Peter Brant of White Birch Farm was a very prominent owner and breeder in the 1980's and nineties, campaigning the likes of homebred champion Gulch and GI Kentucky Derby winner Swale. Following a brief hiatus to focus on polo, he returned to racing in a big way, making headlines at all the major sales since November, and OBS April was no different as Alan Quartucci secured a $575,000 Creative Cause filly on Brant's behalf.

“She's a beautiful filly, great mover, galloped out great on the track,” Quartucci said of Hip 262. “I thought she was one of the best in the sale.”

The gray, who breezed in :21 flat, will join Brant's $1.1-million FTKNOV purchase Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Chad Brown barn. Out of the unraced Church By the Sea (Harlan's Holiday), the filly is a half-sister to Grade III winner Hay Dakota (Haynesfield) and also hails from the family of GSW and GISP Hello Liberty (Forest Camp).

Hip 262 was bred by Brereton C. Jones, whose Airdrie Farm stands second-crop sire Creative Cause. The Grade I-winning stallion's top progeny thus far includes recent Federico Tesio S. winner Twisted Tom.

“I think [Creative Cause] has about 29 runners,” Quartucci remarked. “I think he is on the right track in terms of becoming a good stallion.”

Consignor Eddie Woods and Pete Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbred purchased the filly for $75,000 at last term's Fasig-Tipton July sale.

“She's just a stone runner” Woods commented. “She's tall, leggy, has a great shoulder on her, decent hip. She's very balanced looking and she moves beautifully.”

He added, “I expected her to sell really well, but I didn't expect her to do that.” @CDeBernardis

Fein Looks for More April Magic

Ian Brennan, bidding on behalf of Eric Fein, acquired future GI Champagne S. runner-up Syndergaard (Majesticperfection) from the RiceHorse consignment for $450,000 at last year's OBS April sale and the Irishman was back in action Tuesday, going to $400,000 to secure a colt by Ghostzapper for the owner from the same consignment.

“I loved his work (:10 1/5),” Brennan said of the juvenile's appeal. “I thought his work was very good and he galloped out nice. He covered a lot of ground. Then he showed a lot of class back at the barn. He's just a big smooth horse and very well-balanced. He was very professional.”

Hip 27 is out of graded stakes winner Volcat (After Market), who is a half to graded stakes placed Love to Tell (Stage Colony) and Special Skills (Bernstein). He was purchased by Stallionaire Enterprises for $175,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Syndergaard, a debut winner at Saratoga last August, was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' after romping home by 10 1/4 lengths in the Funny Cide S. He was a valiant runner-up after setting a torrid pace and exchanging blows with Practical Joke (Into Mischief) in the Champagne. Unraced since finishing fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Syndergaard returns Saturday in the William Walker S. at Churchill Downs.

“We bought Syndergaard off Brandon [Rice] as well,” Brennan said. “That was lucky for us. And he is a similar type horse and had a similar work. You're always hoping at the end of the day.”

Of Fein, Brennan added, “We bought three yearlings in September, so he's probably got six 2-year-olds total now and we're hoping to get a couple more. He definitely wants two-turn horses. Even though Syndergaard will probably back up to a mile/seven furlongs, [Fein] usually wants two turns. We're looking for Derby-type horses.”

Casse Strikes for Candy Ride Colt

John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse will face off against Tapwrit (Tapit) when Oxley's champion juvenile Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) goes postward in the May 6 GI Kentucky Derby, but a half-brother to the GII Tampa Bay Derby winner will carry Oxley's colors after Casse signed the ticket at $375,000 for a son of Candy Ride (Arg) Tuesday at OBS.

“We like Candy Ride and you've got to like the dam's side,” Casse explained. “To me, some of the best Candy Rides aren't the biggest and the flashiest, and he would definitely fit into that category. He is just an average-looking colt, but I thought he got over the ground well. He prepped over at Winding Oaks, where we keep a lot of our horses, so we knew something about him.”

Out of GI Spinaway S. winner Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal), hip 120 worked a furlong last week in :10 flat. He was bred by Leonard Riggio's My MeadowView, which purchased Appealing Zophie for $1.1 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, and was making his second sales ring appearance Tuesday after RNA'ing for $45,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. Tapwrit was a $1.2-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling in 2015.

Asked what part Tapwrit's exploits this year played a part in his decision to bid on the bay juvenile, Casse said, “None. When it comes to that part, obviously the Candy Ride was important to us and it never hurts to see a mare has produced a colt as good as Tapwrit, but it really had no bearing on us. We bought him off of his looks and his sire and some of his dam and the way he went.” @JessMartiniTDN

Solis & Litt Snag Candy Ride Relative

Alex Solis II an Jason Litt came out on top on a winning bid of $350,000 for Hip 211, a City Zip colt out of Candy Apple (Arg) (Halo Sunshine), a half-sister to top sire and GISW Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails).

“I bought that for the ladies who owned Competitive Edge, Nancy Favreau and Kathy Psoinos,” Solis commented after signing the ticket out back. “He has a stallion pedigree. He's a really nice colt. His breeze was great and he is a fantastic physical.”

As for the price Solis said, “I thought the price would be around there. I thought it was pretty fair. If he can win a Grade I, he has a stallion pedigree, so we'd be really happy.”

Consigned by Crupi's New Castle Farm, Hip 211 was bred by Colts Neck Stables and breezed a furlong in :9 4/5. @CDeBernardis

Jimmy Creed Colt Rewards Davies, Sharp

Julie Davies and Sarah Sharp have been partnering on a pinhooking prospect for the last five years and the two longtime friends enjoyed their biggest sales ring success together Tuesday in Ocala when a colt by Jimmy Creed sold for $325,000 to the bid of trainer Mark Casse on behalf of John Oxley. The two women had purchased the chestnut for $33,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale.

The colt (hip 259) turned heads during last week's under-tack show with a co-bullet work in : 9 4/5 and surpassed expectations in the OBS sales ring.

“We went in thinking the horse might bring $75,000 to $100,000 and on a lucky day he might bring $150,000,” Sharp, wife of consignor Paul Sharp, admitted. “He obviously exceeded our expectations.”

Of the chestnut's appeal as a yearling, Sharp added, “We really liked his walk and the way he carried himself. He also had good conformation and we loved his shoulder and his hip.”

Last year, Sharp and Davies sold a colt by Majestic Warrior (hip 420) for $65,000 to Breeze Easy at last year's April sale. The dark bay was a $31,000 Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale purchase.

“We have pinhooked together for the last five years. We try to buy a horse every year for about $30,000 and flip it back over at the 2-year-old sales,” Sharp said. “We've been friends since we were 18 and we first got into the business together.”

Sharp, mobbed by well-wishers Tuesday, was quick to say there was no competition between her and her consignor husband.

“We all want everyone to do well,” she said. “This whole business is about everyone doing well and making money. This horse hopefully will go to Mark Casse and do great things.” @JessMartiniTDN

First Samurai Filly a Pinhooking Score

When a filly by First Samurai out of Way to Go (Gone West) went through the sales ring late during last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, she sold for $10,000. The chestnut filly proved much more popular at OBS Tuesday, selling for $200,000 to the bid of bloostock agent Ben McElroy. She was consigned by Off the Hook on behalf of Albert Lozano.

“The filly was bought by Albert, the man who runs our breaking and training program,” revealed Off the Hook's Joe Appelbaum. “He bought her as a yearling near the end of Keeneland and she really came to hand. Really in the last couple of days, the people came and came–I think we had five scopes this morning.”

Hip 34, from the family of Fantastic Look and Worldly Ways (GB), worked a furlong in :10 flat during last week's under-tack show.

First Samurai has a little appeal these days, the fillies in particular,” Appelbaum said, while admitting the juvenile's final price was “a little more than we thought she was going to bring, but not much.”

An Off the Hook April graduate enjoyed racetrack success recently when Faypien (Ghostzapper), who sold for $720,000 at the auction a eyar ago, made an impressive debut at Santa Anita Sunday. @JessMartiniTDN

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